Ask Stacy Blackman

I just left my third attempt at a GMAT (result, 600, Q66 V43.)

While my score is higher than my last two (580, 550) I don't think its enough to offset my GPA... I think I needed a 650+.

Is there a program for me near Denver, Colorado? U of Denver and U of Colorado-Denver have GMAT averages of 550-580, but I think I needed a little more to offset. Is there anything I can do?

Ugrad GPA: Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Tech, 2.3 GPA (decreasing trend)
Job experience, 5 years (promoted to Technical Sales after 2 years)

As you've guessed, I looked at U. Colorado-Denver, but also Boulder. As well as U. Denver. (Those are the three I sent my scores to.)

I know Colorado State admits 10+ yrs. work experience, so thats far fetched... And local Regis University I hear rumors that it is not a solid MBA program (it also doesn't require a GMAT.)

Could you recommend me to some in the Denver-Fort Collins-Colorado Springs area? These are the schools that have been on my radar so far.

Thanks for the input.

This might seem to be a dumb question, but when I'm looking for courses, am I looking for undergraduate or graduate courses for my alternative transcript? Thanks!

Dear Lisa,

Been reading through this thread and I find myself in the same situation.

Here is my story:
GMAT: 700 (90%), Q:47 (77%), V:39 (87%), AW:5.5 (77%)
Undergrad: B.S. Chemical Engineering, Top 25 (Public school). GPA: 2.93/4.00. 3.10 in final year. Math courses were Bs and Cs (Years 1&2) but engineering courses were all Bs or As (Years 3&4). I will address this in an additional essay.
Additional Course: 'A' in Management Accounting (Cost Accounting) extension course

Work Experience (All at same Blue Chip company, Fortune 100):
Current - General Supervisor of manufacturing factory. I have 8 direct reports, 3 of which are shift supervisors. A total of 80 people under me.
Previous - Six Sigma Black Belt. Led global supply chain development/improvement projects across multiple global sites (UK, Singapore, US). Coached 10-15 green belts. Prior role was Engineer at same company. Promoted 2 times since starting - labeled as high potential employee. Will have 6 years work experience at start of B-school.

Extra-Circulars & Leadership: Junior Achievement (teaching elementary grade students). Cycling. Triathlons.

Target Schools: UCLA Part-time (Round 1, Class of 2015), USC Part-time (Round 1, Class of 2015)

Male, 28 (at start), Asian (born in America)

Post business school goals: Supply Chain Management

What do you think? Do I have a chance?

Hi Lisa:

I received a ~2.9 GPA with somewhat upward trend at UCLA for a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. I applied last year to only a few top 10 schools with a GMAT of 770, but I don't think I had enough experience (2 years as a project manager @ networking giant in Silicon Valley). I want to take this next year to bolster my undergraduate GPA, and am going to take 2 or 3 quarters of undergraduate community college courses to hopefully receive A's in them. I would like to then apply in the fall of 2012, with about 4 years experience.

I'm planning to take Accounting/Economics courses because they are quantitative and would broaden my skillset. Is this a wise approach? What other types of courses at community college should I look into?

Thanks in Advance, Rich

Lisa,

My question is whether or not I need to explain my GPA in the optional essay. I did my undergrad at Cornell, where I majored in Business and received a 3.24 GPA. Sophomore year I had a D- in an elective class, and if I exclude this class my GPA bumps up to 3.34. If I exclude my entire sophomore year my GPA bumps up to 3.37.

GMAT (percentile Q/V) score is 700 (73%/89%), I've passed the Level I CFA, and I have 4 years of investment banking experience in NYC.

I'd like to get into a top 20 program (top 10 ideally) and think I have a good story. I just can't decide if it will hurt or help to discuss what happened with the GPA.

Thanks for the advice!
Dave

Hi Lisa,
I did my undergrad in Petroleum Engineering from Indian School Of Mines ,India.Its admission is through the prestigious IIT-JEE(Indian Institute of Technology-Joint Entrance Examination)in which I got a rank of 3682 amongst a pool of 2 lakh+ aspirants(top 2%)in my 1st attempt(Many people take a drop of 1-2 yrs for preparation after XIIth standard).Over there ,the grading is done on the scale of 10.My GPA was 6.68/10 whereas the GPA of our branch topper was 8.9/10,so I guess(Correct me if I am wrong) that makes my GPA to be (6.68/8.9)*4 =3.0(on a 4 scale).The GPA declined in the 2nd yr and increased a bit in the later 2 yrs.After passing out I joined a govt. E & P (Exploration & Production) petroleum company as a Reservoir Engineer and have a work ex. of 26 months till date.My job requires analysing data and predicting performance based on that(Simulation Work).The job entails site visit due to which I have also worked on offshore rigs for a brief period.
I can expect to get a GMAT score of 750+(based on practice tests).

3rd Language:-I also have a basic knowledge of French language and have been studying it for quite some time.In school also I got the French prize for topping my class in that particular subject.
My mother tongue is Hindi and I am equally conversant in English.

Hobbies:-Playing Guitar- Part of a jamming band(Been playing since college),playing computer games,anagrams,avid movie watcher.


Sports:-Table Tennis,Tennis(among the top players in my college).I also play football after my office hours with the colleagues,regular office gym goer.

Extra Info:- I was also the district topper of my zone in Xth standard(CBSE Board).In science subject I had got 99/100(top 0.1% in India in Science) and hence was selected among the few people in India for a science meet.Prior to Xth,I had studied in a boarding school.

At my workplace,there is a policy of promotion after 4 years so I am presently on the same post on which I was recruited.Have mentored juniors in the company(in other department) in their work.I currently represent my department in Data Management.

Concerns:-1)Low GPA
2)No significant community work(was partly involved with a NGO that was formed in our college that used to provide education to underprivileged children)
3)No subordinates at work(But part of a very independent team as our department is very small and in its growing phase).How can I show more competiteveness at work?


As guided by you,I am looking forward to taking calculus and statistics classes and presenting an alternate transcript to make up for my low Math class grades in Engineering.With more effort,I can also improve my GMAT score to be in the 780-800 range.

I am also planning to take the DELF Certification Exam for French Language in November which is issued by the French Ministry(If it doesn't add more value,I can rather concentrate on my application and the Quant classes-Whats your opinion?)

I am planning to apply in the R2(maybe R1) for schools in the top 10 category.

I would be the 1st person in my family to do a Masters.

Thanks in Advance,
Harsh.

Hey Lisa-

I have the opportunity to choose among taking a macroeconomics class, a marketing class, or a management class. I will be taking a microeconomics class so I was wondering if I should take the macroeconomics class concurrently (I have taken it before; got a B -) or one of the other two options? Thanks!